Sarkisian’s Task: Restore Fragile Huskies’ Psyche

UW’s head coach presides over an offense that scores 34.7 points per game, and a defense that statistically ranks among the worst in school history.

Despite linebacker Cort Dennison's outstanding play -- he leads Washington with 63 tackles -- the Huskies are yielding 431.3 yards per game, the third-highest total in school history. / Drew McKenzie, Sportspress Northwest

Two years after the University of Washington brought him aboard to clean up after Tyrone Willingham, Steve Sarkisian finds himself presiding over one of the highest-scoring offenses (34.7 points per game) in school history and, via defensive coordinator Nick Holt, a stop unit that has turned all Tyee Club boosters into incessant teeth-gnashers.

Calls for Holt’s scalp escalated (not much to scalp) after the Huskies put on one of the more stunning displays of matador defense in modern school history in a 65-point loss to Stanford — stunning because Stanford’sAndrew Luck, the Heisman Trophy favorite, was expected to shred the most ineffective secondary any Tyee as ever seen, and instead didn’t even bother.

Luck milked three touchdown passes out of his 169 yards, but mainly spectated as the Stanford running game trampled Washington for 446 yards, the fourth-worst total ever allowed by a UW team. It’s really rubbing the home noses in it when an opponent attacks the Huskies’ strength, fairly ignores their major weakness, and still flourishes to the tune of a 44-point win.

No wonder Sarkisian suggested after the game that his major task this week will be mending his team’s fractured psyche.

The big numbers that Stanford put up last Saturday inflated Washington’s average total yards allowed to 431.3 yards per game through seven contests. Only two Husky teams, both coached by the inept Tyrone Willingham, including his winless (0-12) edition in 2008, yielded more over a single season — and not much more. Most average yards allowed per game by a UW team since World War II:

Year

Coach

Record

Rush

Pass

Total

Nadir Game

2008

T. Willingham

0-12-0

240.6

211.2

451.8

Lost to USC 56-0

2007

T. Willingham

4-9-0

184.5

261.9

446.4

Oregon had 661 yards

2011

Steve Sarkisian

5-2-0

146.9

284.4

431.3

Stanford scored 65

2005

T. Willingham

2-9-0

143.4

275.7

419.1

Cal had 557 yards

1969

Jim Owens

1-9-0

223

182

415

Lost to UCLA 57-14

1998

Jim Lambright

6-6-0

131.2

271.3

402.5

Lost at Nebraska 55-7

1973

Jim Owens

2-9-0

235.2

164.8

400

Lost at Oregon 58-0

Again, it’s something of a mystery why Stanford didn’t opt to embarrass the Husky secondary when it easily could have. It has been said here, and elsewhere, that Washington’s secondary features below-average Pac-12 talent. But that’s a gross understatement. Although not shredded by Luck and the Cardinal, this is the worst pass coverage Washington has ever had — by quite some.

Despite “holding” Luck to 169 yards, the Huskies are surrendering 284.4 passing yards per game. Willingham’s 2008 busts were nowhere close to that, permitting 211.2. Imagine how fat Washington’s average yards-against mark would look today if Luck had elected to pick on the Huskies through the air. For the record, these are the worst pass defense teams — statistically — in Washington history.

Year

Coach

Record

Att.

Cmp.

Yards

Per Pass

Per Catch

Per Game

2011

Sarkisian

5-2-0

211

144

1991

7.3

12.2

284.4

2005

Willingham

2-9-0

379

253

3033

8.0

12.0

275.7

1998

Lambright

6-6-0

350

187

2984

8.5

15.9

271.3

2007

Willingham

4-9-0

458

295

3405

7.4

11.5

261.9

2002

Neuheisel

7-6-0

446

249

3373

7.6

13.5

259.5

1999

Neuheisel

7-5-0

378

205

2735

7.2

13.3

248.6

2009

Sarkisian

5-7-0

363

228

2888

8.0

12.7

240.7

2001

Neuheisel

8-4-0

322

184

2420

7.5

13.2

220.0

Notice that the Huskies allow 7.3 yards per pass. That’s generally lower than the other UW teams on this list. Also note that UW yields 12.2 yards per reception. Five Husky teams allowed more. And yet, this edition of the Huskies is the worst on the list in average yards per game allowed. What this says is what Tyees have seen through seven games: Washington gives up too many big plays and tackles poorly.

As to what can be done about it, the answer is not much — yet. As Holt explained following the Stanford drubbing, UW recruiters simply need better quality athletes into the program, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

Calling for Holt’s job won’t help. In fact, what’s remarkable is how fast the Huskies have started to recover from the 0-12 in 2008. If Washington finishes with a winning record, the Huskies would have achieved that faster — three years — than any team that ever had the misfortune to go 0-12, with the exception of Hawaii, which produced a winning mark one year after going 0-12.

Or, another way to look at UW’s progress: With one more win, Washington will become bowl eligible. That would mean two bowl games in three years following an 0-12. Who would have believed that to be possible the day Sarkisian came aboard?

WeeklyRoundup Email

Followus on Twitter

Likeus on Facebook

Circleus on Google+

SportspressNW.com has partnered with Crosscut.com. Watch exclusive videos of Art Thiel and get the latest political and civic news from the Northwest at Crosscut.com.

ArtThiel on KNKX

Kirsten Kendrick's Q. & A. with Thiel can be heard every Friday during Morning Edition at 5:35am and 7:35am and again that same day on All Things Considered at 4:45pm. It also airs Saturday at 6:35am and 9:35am.